Committee of 3 Mandate Extended

Ending its work for this year, the General Assembly’s Special Political Committee decided by a 60-10 vote, with 44 abstentions, to extend the mandate of the Committee of Three “pending the early termination of Israeli occupation of Arab territories.” The unit, composed of Somalia, Sri Lanka and Yugoslavia, none of which has diplomatic relations with Israel, is the special committee to investigate Israeli practices in the occupied territories.

Israel has condemned its refusal to investigate the situation of Jews in Arab lands as well, and has barred it from Israel. The resolution also condemns Israeli “exploitation,” “annexation” and other practices in the administered areas. The resolution, which goes to the Assembly for approval or rejection, was co-sponsored by Afghanistan, Guinea, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania and Pakistan.

Among those in favor were the Soviet Union, China, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria. Those opposed included the U.S., Israel, Canada, Bolivia, Uruguay the Swaziland. The vote to extend the committee’s mandate was taken Friday.